Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

We understood the irony of the message as we sampled their sheer, almost-not-there lipgloss, then looked into a mirror decorated with white vinyl letters in the bustling pop-up shop: you look good , our reflection told us. billion company in the brutally competitive beauty industry, especially one with such broad appeal.

Startup 280

Startup Netflix Los Angeles Innocal 280

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2019

In my work with new and aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most struggle with putting together a written business plan, often pointing out that someone they know started a business without anything written down. There are plenty of guidelines and sample models available on the Internet, so don’t be intimidated by the terminology.

Ideas 126

Ideas Slides Sample Examples 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note. entrepreneur startup business plan business' No problem. Marty Zwilling.

Sample 92

Sample Writing Startup Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2019

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Here are the key elements: Company name. You need all these before you start looking for funding.

IP 93

IP Invest Patents Social Media 93

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2012

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note. Every investor I know is frustrated with the poor quality of the business plans they get. No problem.

Sample 96

Sample Writing Summary Startup 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 3, 2010

This was really a fun week at TWiVC because we decided to have an entrepreneur come and talk about raising capital rather than having a VC come on. It’s always such a pleasure for me to spend time with Farb because he has all of the enthusiasm and energy you love to see in entrepreneurs. Company still in beta.

Venture Capital 214

Venture Capital Startup Design S3 214

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Here are the key elements: Company name. You need all these before you start looking for funding.

Startup 103

Startup Patents IP Social Media 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2013

Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. As it turned out, 17 of the 27 companies were still in business seven years later, which is at least double that of other studies. Effective entrepreneurs are always open to learning, no matter what their prior experience.

Startup 102

Startup Study Journal Sample 102

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

Death By Competitive Analysis - Steve Blank , March 1, 2010 Trading emails with a startup CEO building an iPhone app, I asked him why potential customers would buy his product. In response he sent me a competitive analysis. It looked like every competitive analysis I had done for 20 years, (ok maybe better.) And it made me sad.

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2010

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note. Every investor I know is frustrated with the poor quality of the business plans they get. No problem.

Startup 91

Startup Funding Sample Writing 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2017

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Here are the key elements: Company name. You need all these before you start looking for funding.

Startup 69

Startup Patents IP Social Media 69

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

One of our core tasks was “market analysis,&# which consistent of: market sizing, market forecasts, competitive analysis and then instructing customers on which direction to take. But all of the data projections were so different so I decided to call some of the research companies and ask how they derived their data.

Statistics 415

Statistics Startup Report Research 415

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2012

Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. As it turned out, 17 of the 27 companies were still in business seven years later, which is at least double that of other studies. Effective entrepreneurs are always open to learning, no matter what their prior experience.

Startup 99

Startup Study Journal Sample 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2012

Take a look at my website for the Sample Executive Summary , which shows what can be done in one page (both sides). Skip the acronyms, history of the company, and the disruptive technology behind your solution. Your competitive advantage. Don’t kill your credibility by saying you have no competition.

Summary 97

Summary Writing Competition Sample 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Competition and sustainable advantage. List and position your competition, or alternatives available to the customer. Highlight your sustainable competitive advantages, and barriers to entry. What is the current valuation of the company? What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

Competition and sustainable advantage. List and position your competition, or alternatives available to the customer. Highlight your sustainable competitive advantages, and barriers to entry. What is the current valuation of the company? What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

InfoChachkie

APRIL 3, 2012

They profess to be entrepreneurs, but are they actually Wantrepreneurs? A Wantrepreneur is a well-intentioned person who wants to be an entrepreneur, but does not have the skills, personality and or risk profile to be successful. Sample Personal Questions. Did you play any team or individual sports competitively?

Entrepreneur 219

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Journal 219

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. As it turned out, 17 of the 27 companies were still in business seven years later, which is at least double that of other studies. Effective entrepreneurs are always open to learning, no matter what their prior experience.

Startup 92

Startup Study Journal Sample 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2011

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Here are the key elements: Company name. You need all these before you start looking for funding.

Social Media 94

Social Media Media Patents IP 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

Competition and sustainable advantage. List and position your competition, or alternatives available to the customer. Highlight your sustainable competitive advantages, and barriers to entry. What is the current valuation of the company? What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Take a look at my website for the Sample Executive Summary , which shows what can be done in one page (both sides). Skip the acronyms, history of the company, and the disruptive technology behind your solution. Your competitive advantage. Don’t kill your credibility by saying you have no competition.

Summary 90

Summary Writing Competition Sample 90

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 21, 2012

One thing I noticed from our previous interview is that Heather is one smart entrepreneur. For a first-time entrepreneur, she is not only getting it right and getting “base hits”, but she is slugging balls out of the park! Entrepreneur Nuggets. Apply to conference Startup Alley’s and competitions.

Education 63

Education Web 2.0 Course Platform 63

InfoChachkie

APRIL 6, 2015

The world’s largest skateboard company, Skate One produces many of industry’s best-selling brands, including Powell•Peralta Skateboards , BONES Wheels and Mini•Logo Skateboards. George spent the first ten years of his career, gaining experience in the aerospace industry, before founding his skateboard company in 1976 at the age of 33.

Mentor 100

Mentor Pacific Palisades Startup Class 100